130th Year
“Discover the Amazing Universe.”
Visit Ballarat and come to Ballarat Municipal Observatory Museum and Learn about the Cosmos with our 3D Astrotour theatre, view planets & stars with our modern & historical telescopes.
Best of Ballarat – Things to do and Places to Stay before or after your visit or ask our Demonstrators for a copy of the Visitors Guide to Ballarat.
Gift Vouchers are available for the Science Shop or for 3D Tours and Viewing.
OBSERVATORY CLOSED 24th December – 4th January Inclusive.
PROGRAM
TUESDAY
3.30pm Observatory, Cafe and Science Shop open.
4.00pm Observe the sun safely.
4.30pm Tour and 3D Movies, what’s up in the night sky tonight.
6.00pm Closes if no confirmed bookings for the evening.
Open only if confirmed bookings from 8.30pm:
8:30pm Tour and 3D movies.
9.00pm Viewing at the telescopes or virtual Sky and Tour if cloudy. Venus and Mars are evening objects.
THURSDAY
10.00am Observatory, Cafe and Science Shop open.
1.00pm Observe the sun safely and listen to the Sun on our Radio Telescope.
1.30pm Tour and 3D Movies, what’s up in the nioght sky tonight .
5.00pm Tour and 3D Movies, what’s up in the night sky tonight.
6.00pm Closes if no confirmed bookings for the evening.
Open only if confirmed bookings from 8.30pm:
8:30pm Tour and 3D movies.
9.00pm Viewing at the telescopes or virtual Sky and Tour if cloudy. Venus and Mars are evening objects.
FRIDAY
3.30pm Observatory, Cafe and Science Shop open.
4.00pm Observe the sun safely.
4.30pm Tour and 3D Movies, what’s up in the night sky tonight.
Open from 8.30pm only if confirmed bookings:
8.30pm Tour and 3D movies.
9.00pm Viewing at the telescopes or virtual Sky and Tour if cloudy. Venus and Mars are evening objects.
Cost: $20 Adults, $15 Conc, $10 Students < 18, $50 Family 2A &2S, $55 Family 2A & 3+S. Payment by Cash or Direct Deposit on your Mobile, NO Eftpos.
Bookings essential on 0429 199 312 or 61 3 5332 7526
SATURDAY
3.30pm Observatory and Science Shop open.
4.30pm Observe the Sun safely.
5.00pm Tour and 3D Movies, what’s up in the sky tonight.
Open only if confirmed bookings from 8.30pm:
8.30pm Tour and 3D movies.
9.00pm Viewing at the telescopes or virtual Sky and Tour if cloudy. Venus and Mars are evening objects.
Bookings essential on 0429 199 312 or 61 3 5332 7526
Costs for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday bookings are as follows for Public visitors,
$35 Adults, $20 Conc, $15 Students < 18, $80 Family 2A &2S, $90 Family 2A & 3+S. Payment by Cash or Direct Deposit on your Mobile, NO Eftpos.
this fee includes a cover charge for very small groups. Larger groups will still be charged at the lower general entry costs. Friday and Saturday costs as per General entry.
General Cost: $20 Adults, $15 Conc, $10 Students < 18, $50 Family 2A &2S, $55 Family 2A & 3+S. Payment by Cash or Direct Deposit on your Mobile, NO Eftpos.
Sunday , Monday and Wednesday the Observatory is closed unless there is a pre – arranged booking or special event is on.
For help in planning your visit, refer to the Diary of Phenomena below and the Frequently Asked Questions.
To Subscribe to our Events listing click here to download the iCal Calendar onto your iPhone, iPad or Computer
What’s on at the Observatory
- GLOBE at Night 2016 on January 1, 2016 8:00 pm
- Starry Summer Night – The Sci-Fi Event 2017 on January 28, 2017 6:00 pm
The Ballarat Observatory and Golden Nugget Discovery Tours have come together to give you an unforgettable bush and night time experience.
We care for our Environment and Planet Earth.
As the sun sets, the Australian bush comes alive, a chance to encounter, depending on their being present on the night, some local wildlife such as
Kangaroos, Possums, Gliders, Owls, Frogs, Bats, and other night wild life and then to look through telescopes at the Observatory to discover the wonders of the night sky.
More information here
For Information about Current & Future Projects and to make a Donation, click this link
NEWS
First Earth has a second moon, HO3, and now Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our solar system, has a planet, Proxima B, two great discoveries in our lifetime! Proxima B was discovered using the HARPS instrument on the ESO 3.6-metre telescope. The attached image, shows Proxima, designated TYC9010-4949-1 just East of Rigel Kentaurus, Alpa Centauri (second closest star system, it is a binary star). Proxima is only visible in telescopes, being magnitude 10.56. The most you can see with your eyes is about Magnitude 6 depending on the quality of the ‘seeing’.
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The Canadian Regional Park was opened by the Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday 5th August.
This new park provides a wonderful resource for the Community in perpetuity. The Community came together and the Local and State Government listened. Congratulations to all involved in this landmark decision.The preservation of the night sky over the South of Ballarat, the flora and fauna and the recreational purposes for the wider community have been the great outcomes.
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Diary of Astronomical Phenomena
Sunrise and Sunset Times Ballarat
How good is your backyard sky? Find out here- Light Pollution-What is It?